Arizona Cardinals: Adrian Peterson offensive player of the week
By Scott Allen
In just one game with the Arizona Cardinals, running back Adrian Peterson already gaining awards
It will keep being said, it is just one game. However what a game it was for Arizona Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson.
Peterson, who carried the ball 26 times for 134-yards and two touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. That was a no-brainer.
The scary thing is Peterson had a chance to have even greater numbers. Two penalties negated a 41-yard run in the second half. That would have given Peterson 175-yards in his Cardinals debut.
That being said, Peterson was at 54-yards after the first drive. That was more yards the Cardinals had rushed for as a team the previous week at Philadelphia.
Peterson was at 76-yards at the end of the first quarter and 87-yards at halftime. The Cardinals did ease up a little as time went by as the passing game opened up.
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Peterson had rushed for just 81-yards all season with the New Orleans Saints before being traded to the desert. It was Peterson’s first 100-yard effort since 2015 with the Minnesota Vikings.
Can he duplicate the feat on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams? I wouldn’t count on it. However at this point, I wouldn’t rule it out either.
Now that Peterson won’t be in front of the home crowd, he’s gotten the emotion of the trade out of the way, we’ll see what he can do 5,300 miles away in London on Sunday. The offensive line will need to help with the same kind of effort they put forth as well from last Sunday.
What we really need to see is consistency. He doesn’t need to rush for 134-yards or even 100-yards every week. As long as the run is working to set up the pass, then that’s what matters the most.